Retail Clinics

TORONTO It seems that women that make less money than their counterparts are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, Canadian researchers found in a new study.

WASHINGTON Nearly 1-in-5 hospitalizations in 2008 were related to diabetes, according to a recent report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

That means a total of more than 7.7 million hospital stays and $83 million in hospital costs, of which Medicare covered 60%, the report found. On average, diabetes patients paid $10,937 for hospitalization, while those without the disease paid $8,746.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. The Convenient Care Association and SMARTcare have teamed up to provide CCA member clinicians with a counseling tool to educate patients about how to manage illnesses and conditions, SMARTcare announced.

The SMARTcare counseling tool provides convenient care operators and clinicians with a database of education on managing common illnesses and conditions, and a reference guide to over-the-counter medications to treat symptoms.

PRINCETON, N.J. Novo Nordisk's website AskScreenKnow.com features new interactive enhancements, offering additional information and resources on diabetes.

AskScreenKnow.com visitors now can get involved through various interactive features on the site, including:

WASHINGTON More than 120,000 pharmacists in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have received training to administer immunizations against influenza, prompting one pharmacy group to urge consumers to get themselves vaccinated.

The American Pharmacists Association is encouraging consumers to get influenza immunizations and consider their local pharmacies as places to receive vaccines.

NEW YORK The global market for vaccines grew to more than $20 billion last year, according to a report by healthcare market research firm Kalorama Information.

The New York-based firm’s report, “Vaccines 2010: World Market Analysis, Key Players and Critical Trends in a Fast-Changing Industry,” indicated that the world market for preventative vaccines was $22.1 billion in 2009, compared with $19 billion in 2008.

SILVER SPRING, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has approved an emergency contraceptive pill made by a French drug maker.

The FDA announced the approval of Ella (ulipristal acetate), designed to prevent pregnancy when taken orally within five days of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, though it is not designed for routine use as a contraceptive.

DORCHESTER, Mass. Codman Square Health Center on Thursday hosted a press conference to celebrate the launch of its pilot Fruit and Veggie Prescription program, a health initiative whereby physicians can prescribe vouchers for local farmers markets and then monitor the impact of the increased fruit and vegetable consumption on patients’ health.